(BOSTON, MA, 11/8/2023) – The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA) today published data reporting a 300% increase in calls for help during the month of October, compared to the same period last year. The data reflect the impact of events in Gaza and the West Bank on local residents, as evidenced by the increasing Islamophobic rhetoric and hate incidents targeting Muslim, immigrant, and Arab communities across the United States.
“Massachusetts Muslims are anxious about the rise in anti-Muslim incidents targeting students, employees, and individuals, at home and within their communities,” said CAIR-MA Executive Director Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, Esq. “Everyone deserves to be safe.”
The numbers show that the complaints CAIR-MA has received include vandalism, violence, threats of violence, and doxxing. In addition, there is a high number of complaints of retaliation against those who speak in favor of Palestinians in the workforce, public schools, colleges, and universities.
In response to the rise in Islamophobia, CAIR-MA has joined a network of faith leaders in meeting with Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office to call for a ceasefire in Palestine and to draw attention to the increase in Islamophobia in Massachusetts. CAIR-MA has also met with high-level members of Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office to ask that the AG create a task force to counter “doxxing” in the Commonwealth, a frequent digital weapon being used against Muslim professionals and students in colleges and universities.
“We received more complaints of hate crimes this month than we did for all of 2022,” said CAIR-MA Legal Director Barbara J. Dougan, Esq. “We thank the Attorney General for hearing from us on behalf of the Muslim community and we look forward to working with her to protect Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, and immigrants who are at risk in these times.”
Washington, D.C., based CAIR has documented a spike in reported bias incidents since the escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine on Oct. 7.
Video: CAIR Reports Sharp Spike in Harassment, Bias and Violence Targeting American Muslims
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe to CAIR’s Email List
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters
Subscribe to CAIR’s Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe to CAIR’s YouTube Channel
Follow CAIR on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cair_national/
Donate to CAIR
https://action.cair.com/a/donate
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
You are receiving this email due to your interest selection from commercial media databases. If you would like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
END
CONTACT: Barbara J. Dougan, CAIR-MA Legal Director, 781-281-9992, bdougan@cair.com